Still reeling from the effects of a drought, farmers in the state suffered another blow in the form of unseasonal rain in the past few days. Officials said the rabi crop was extensively affected with 17,000 hectares of crop destroyed in the just Yavatmal district, infamous for farmer suicides in the cotton belt of Vidarbha. Early estimates pegged the loss from crop destruction across the state at Rs 1,000 crore.

"I've directed all divisional commissioners and collectors to conduct panchnamas of individual farmers who have been impacted," chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said recently.

Officials said wheat, jowar and chickpea crops were hit by the heavy rain, as were fruit plantations, including mango orchards, vineyards and pomegranate fields. In some cases, harvested crops and seeds were also destroyed.

The damage was extensive, spanning the districts of Pune, Nasik, Amravati, Bhandara, Ratnagiri and Raigad.

Just a year ago, farmers in the state bore the brunt of strong hailstorms. Over the past few months, 90 lakh farmers were hit by one of the most widespread droughts witnessed in the state, one which devastated the kharif crop.

In December, Fadnavis had asked the Centre for Rs 6000 crore for drought relief. Of this, Rs 4,800 crore was meant to compensate farmers for crop losses.

Yet, even three months later, the Centre has not released any money. The delay is all the more awkward since Fadnavis hails from Vidarbha, which faced extensive crop loss in the drought.

"It's unfortunate that the Modi government has not acted quickly to help farmers in need," former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said.

Officials said the delay had not affected farmers as the state had released Rs 4,000 crore to district collectors without waiting for aid from the Centre.

"Farmers have received compensation," chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said. "We hope to disburse the entire amount by March 7."

Yet, the relief is yet to trickle down from the local authorities to large sections of farmers. So far two-thirds of the affected farmers have been compensated and 68% of the funds distributed, shows official data.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/